My Homemade Shea Butter Coconut Mix

Have you made any homemade mixes?  If so tell us about it!  Since moving to France, while Sasou's hair has thrived, Lady Grace's has started to suffer from severe dryness.  While dryness is beyond common in naturally curly hair, it has been magnified since our arrival and I have decided to take matters into my own hands and go moisture crazy! LOL. But seriously, I have come up with a plan of action that involves a weekly moisturizing regimen and daily maintenance.  While I certainly plan to continue to use commercial products, I have also decided to use some homemade mixes, as well. For starters, I decided to make a Shea Butter Coconut Mix (with bit of Argan and Olive Oils).  Why this combination?  Coconut oil is a carrier oil and is better absorbed into the hair than many other oils.  I used cold pressed, virgin, organic coconut oil.   There is also much written on shea butter  - it has been used for ages on the Continent and is known for its healing, restorative properties - plus it is a great sealant to keep that moisture "locked" in.  Argan and olive oils help with dry scalp and dryness in general.  So there is my logic!  The mixture was quite easy to make, but finding the components around Paris was a bit more involved.  This weekend I plan on using some of this mix for a deep (and hot) conditioning treatment (will probably combine it with a bit of Shea Moisture's Deep Conditioning Masque and a bit of Castor Oil, which is also good for those with moisture challenges).  Wish us luck!

Final Product (in an old Nieva container)

Ingredients (shea butter, coconut oil, argan oil and olive oil)

Single Bow

Here is Lady Grace's style for the week which I call the "single bow"!

Top View

Back View

Showcasing: Hairstyles in Brazil

Português:  Estamos felizes de ter "membros" de todo o mundo e pensei que seria divertido "apresentam" alguns países de tempos em tempos. Vamos começar com o Brasil! Mostre-nos seus penteados lindos para as meninas!  Note:  Espero que esta seja uma boa tradução :)

English:  We are happy to have members from all across the world and thought it would be fun to "feature" certain countries from time-to-time.  Let's start with Brazil!  Show us your pretty hairstyles full of braids and curls for little girls!

Double Strand Twists & Twisted Beaded Cornrows

So after great difficulty in finding "inspiration" for a creative style for Sasou this week, here is a photo of what I came up with this evening...and I like the results! The style is simple, will last for at least a week and is easy to "touch up".  I used a commercial twist and loc gel to maintain the hold until my Carol's Daughter Loc Butter arrives.  It is amazing what good product can do for hair.  Sasou's hair has really grown over the past year and has become more and more healthy.  Go Sasou!  What do you think of this style?

Double Strand Twists & Twisted  Beaded Cornrows

Where do you get your "hairspiration"?

QUESTION:  Ladies, let's talk...where do you get your "hairspiration"?  What inspires how you style your hair or your little girls' hair on a given week?  Let's share ideas, photos, etc...

I almost always find my inspiration visually.  For example, when I saw the second ballerina from the left with double strand twists, I knew that was a style that I wanted to try on Lady Grace (see earlier post) and it turned out to be adorable on her.  As the weekend approaches, I'm searching for this week's inspiration.  We'll be sure to share what I come up with over the weekend and love to see what you come up with, as well!  So tell us...what's your "hairspiration"?

 ~ Janee

"Hairspiration" for Double Strand Twists

What is Your Moisturizing Routine?

Lets share: What products are you currently using as part of your "moisturizing" routine?

I was so happy to come home to my delivery of Shea Moisture products! There has really been an emergence of "commercialized" hair products on the more natural side of the spectrum for African American hair in recent years. I use many of them for different reasons. At the moment, we are using the Shea Moisture line for general maintenance (explanation below), but I do use Miss Jessie's for braids and Carol's Daughter Loc Butter for twists, among others. I've used Shea Moisture in the past and we are currently using it now. We are using Shea Moisture for the moment for two reasons.  One, it is free of sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, propylene glycol, paba, paraffin, phthalates, and synthetic color and fragrance.  Two, since our arrival to France Lady Grace's hair has become super dry.  Perhaps something to do with the water.   Her hair is still in good health by I feel that her ends have suffered a bit. Therefore I've been looking for products that's can give and help her hair retain moisture and nourishment. I'm hoping that Shea Moisture will help do the trick!  I absolutely love these products, especially the shampoo.  I don't deep condition every week since one would run the risk of over conditioning - maybe every few weeks.  But I have been spraying water and applying a bit of curly pudding or several sprays of the reconstructive elixir oil every few days in an effort to keep the hair moisturized, especially the ends.

Shampoo
Shea Moisture's Coconut & Hibiscus OR
Shea Moisture's Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention

Conditioner
Shea Moisture's Yucca & Baobab Volumizing
Shea Moisture's Deep Treatment Masque

Leave In Moisturizer
Shea Moisture's Curl & Styling Milk

Moisturizer for Styling/Braiding
Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding
Shea Moisture's Shea Butter Reconstructive Elixir
Note: I used to use mineral and petrolatum based products but everything I've read suggests that those types of product aren't necessarily good for our hair...but that can be the subject of another entry.

Shea Moisture Products That We are Currently Using

Braided French Roll to the Side

This week Sasou will be wearing a braided "French Roll to the Side".  I recently learned that when doing styles that require a bit more geometric precision, for me at least, it is soooo much easier to part and section the hair before beginning.  It also forces me to clearly think out the desired look.  Sasou's hair has come a really long way over the past year.  Her hair is now extremely healthy and responds to most product quite well.  I usually do her hair on Friday night and it can last up to 10 days if necessary and still look pretty good - she has great texture for cornrowed styles.

Finished Product - Side View with
Braided Bangs

Sectioning the Hair